Derasha 67 on Vayikra 13:2

TT #67 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 2

The Complete Passuk

אָדָ֗ם כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֤ה בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ שְׂאֵ֤ת אֽוֹ־סַפַּ֙חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַהֶ֔רֶת וְהָיָ֥ה בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ לְנֶ֣גַע צָרָ֑עַת וְהוּבָא֙ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן א֛וֹ אֶל־אַחַ֥ד מִבָּנָ֖יו הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

English: When a person has on the skin of the body a swelling, a rash, or a discoloration, and it develops into a scaly affection on the skin of the body, it shall be reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:2

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Shevuos 6b for this stage in the definition of the skin-affliction appearances.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Shevuos 6b
וּמְנָלַן דְּבַהֶרֶת עַזָּה הִיא? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, אָמַר קְרָא: ״אִם בַּהֶרֶת לְבָנָה הִיא״ — הִיא לְבָנָה, וְאֵין אַחֶרֶת לְבָנָה.

English: From where do we know that baheres is an intense white? Abaye says Scripture states, “If the baheres is white”: it alone is white, and no other appearance is as white.

Type of Learning

Definition by scriptural comparison

What Is Learned

The Gemara derives the exceptional whiteness of baheres from the verse's wording, distinguishing it from the other appearances.